Chapter Four: Fireside Chat

Draco Malfoy was in his dormitory, pacing back and forth as he reread Hermione's letter for the hundredth time. What am I going to do? He asked himself. It's been nearly a week and I still haven't answered her.

Then it hit him. He knew what he was going to do.


Hermione and Ginny were in the library, working on their homework with their friend, Luna Lovegood. "What's wrong, Hermione?" The Ravenclaw asked.

"What do you mean?" Hermione replied.

"All you've done since we got here is stare at a blank piece of parchment," Ginny said. "It's not like you to get writer's block."

"I know," she sighed. "It's just that I've been… thinking."

"Thinking about what?" Luna asked dreamily.

Ginny put down her quill. "He still hasn't written back yet, has he?"

"No," Hermione said downheartedly, "and I don't think he ever will."

"I'm sorry," Luna interjected, "but who are you talking about?"

"Hermione's got herself a secret admirer," Ginny said with a smirk.

"Oh, how exciting! Do you have any idea who it is?"

"I'm afraid not," Hermione answered. "He still hasn't replied to the letter that I sent him last week…"

"Hmm, that's odd… Maybe he's intimidated by you and that's why he hasn't written back yet?"

"Or maybe you're friends with him and he doesn't want to ruin your friendship?" Ginny added.

"I don't know," Hermione said. "I think I'm going to go back to the common room now. I'll see you two later." Ginny and Luna hollered their goodbyes as she walked away.

When she returned to Gryffindor Tower, Hermione went up to her dormitory to find a letter laying on her pillow and an owl sitting on the windowsill. She gave it a treat before it flew away. Hermione sat down on her bed and opened the envelope. She pulled out a piece of parchment to reveal one sentence written on it:

Meet me in the common room at midnight.

The lack of a signature of some sort surprised Hermione. She shrugged as she hid the note under her pillow before heading back down to the common room. She took a seat on the couch next to Ron as Harry walked in. "Hey! Have either of you seen Ginny?"

"Sorry, mate," Ron said. "I haven't seen her since this morning."

"She was just in the library with Luna," Hermione told her friend. "If you hurry, you should be able to catch her before she leaves."

"Thanks, Hermione! See you later, guys!" Harry headed towards the portrait hole.

"Harry, you better not do anything to my sister!" Ron called after him.

"Don't worry, Ron," Hermione smiled. "He wouldn't do anything to Ginny that you wouldn't do to Lavender."

"Oh, like that's comforting!"

"Ronald Weasley! What on earth have you and that girlfriend of yours been doing?!"

"Nothing!" Ron defended himself. "And that girlfriend of mine has a name, you know."

Hermione rolled her eyes at him. "Yes, Ron. I'm not an idiot."

"I never said you were!"

"You didn't have to."

Ron turned to look her right in the eyes. "Hermione Granger… You may be a right pain in the ass at times, but you are not an idiot."

"Oh, thank you, Ronald. That makes me feel loads better…"

"Hermione, what the bloody hell has gotten into you?!"

"You know what, Ronald?" Hermione stood up. "Why don't you go snog your girlfriend or something?!"

"Maybe I will!"

"Fine!"

"Fine!"

Hermione stormed off, going back up to her dormitory. She changed into her pajamas and laid down on her bed. She pulled out the latest book she had started reading and started where she had left off. She was so enthralled in her book that she didn't realize how long she had been reading it. It was almost midnight when she finally put it down.

Hermione remembered her… appointment with her secret admirer and headed back down to the common room, hoping no one else would be down there. She sat down on the couch. There were still ten minutes until midnight. She waited for someone to come, dozing off as she did.

A loud crack from the fireplace woke her up. She peered into the flames, realizing that a face was forming. "Hello, Hermione." The face was distorted but the voice was so familiar.

"Hello…" She couldn't believe she was actually talking to her secret admirer.

"How are you this evening?"

"I would be better if I knew who you were…"

"Yeah, about that…"

"You're not going to tell me, are you?" Hermione asked as she knelt down in front of the fireplace.

"Hermione, you have to understand that we can never be together," he said. "It's much too dangerous."

"Why is it so dangerous?"

"I, uh," he struggled with his words. "I come from a strong pureblood family…"

"So?" Hermione raised an eyebrow. "That's not a good enough reason for you to hide your identity from me."

He laughed. "That's part of what I like about you, Hermione."

"What is?"

"You always manage to find a way to get the answers you're looking for." She smiled at his words.

"So, you'll tell me then?"

"Not tonight."

The smile faded from her face. "Why not?"

He hesitated for a moment. "I would rather tell you in person…"

"Oh, really?"

"Really."

"When and where?" Hermione asked him.

"How about Christmas Eve? At the masquerade ball?"

"Okay. Where do you want to meet?"

"In the astronomy tower at midnight?"

"I'll be there." The smile returned to her face.

"I'm looking forward to it," he said.

"Will I speak to you again before the ball?"

There was another pause. "Perhaps…"

"Please?" Hermione begged. "I barely made it through this week without one of your letters."

"I'll do my best."

"Thank you."

"You are very welcome, Hermione… I'm really sorry, but I have to be going now."

"Do you have to?" She asked. "I want to learn more about you…"

"Unfortunately, I do… We'll talk again soon, all right?"

"I'm looking forward to it."

"Goodbye, Hermione." The distorted image faded as the fire went out, only a few glowing embers remaining.

"Who were you talking to?" The sound of Ginny's voice startled Hermione.

"Ginny! Don't do that!" She scolded.

"Sorry… Who was it then?"

"My secret admirer…"

"Did you find out who he is?" Ginny asked anxiously.

"No, but I did arrange a meeting with him."

"Really? When?"

"On Christmas Eve at the masquerade ball!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Oh, Hermione, that's wonderful!" Ginny hugged her. "You must be so excited!"

Hermione simply smiled and said, "You have no idea."